Switch for controlling electrically operated circuit interrupters



Feb. 28, 1933.

C. L. REALS SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVEN TORJ ww/XM C. L. REALS Feb. 28, 1933.

SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS Filed Feb. 20, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR. WXM

ATTO EYS.

Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIFFORD L. REALS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICALLY OPERATED CIRCUIT INTERRU'PTERS Application filed February 20, 1931.

tions are present in the interrupter circuit,

so that'repeated operations or pumping of the interrupter is prevented during the time period that the operator is operating the switch member, which effects the closing of the interrupter, or before the operator has time to release the switch member which effects the closing of the interrupter.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combination and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of an interrupter and the circuit controlled thereby, the electro-magnetic means for operating it, and the switch for controlling the flow of current to the electro-magnetic means, and the means controlled by the abnormal conditions in the interrupted circuit for opening the interrupter before it has time to pump.

Figure 2 is an elevation of this switch.

Figure 3 is an elevation, partly in section, looking to the left in Figure 2.

The general type of switch, and the purpose thereof, is shown in Patent No. 1,096,913, issued May 19, 1914, to Charles H. Hill.

This invention comprises a switch for opening and closing the interrupter, the switch having means which prevents pumping, or more than one closing operation when abnormal conditions, as short circuit, or overloads, are present in the interrupter circuit.

In Figure 1, 1 designates the interrupter which operates to open and close a high tension circuit in which 2 and 3 are the feed lines, and 4 and 5 are the load circuit lines.

This interrupted is usually a so-called oil switch.

Serial No. 517,231.

6 designates an electro-magnet which, when its coil is energized, operates to close the interrupter, and 7 an electro-magnet, the coil of which when energized operates to open the interrupter. As here illustrated, the

cores of the electro-magnets through a rod 8, operate a toggle 9, the movement of which is transferred through a rod 10 to the interrupter, the interrupter being closed when the toggle is straightened, and open when the toggle is folded. The electro-magnet 6, when energized, operates to straighten the toggle through the rod 8, and the electro-magnet 7 when energized, operates to break the toggle and the interrupter is held in its closed position by the straightened toggle. 11 designates generally, a switch for closing circuits to the windings of the electro magnets 6 and 7, this switch having a pair of switch members 12 and 13, these switch members being normally open, and when the switch member 12 is closed, it closes the circuit through the coil of the electro-magnet 6, which effects the closing of the interrupter 1, and the switch member 13 when closed, closes a circuit through the coil of the electro-magnet 7 which effects the opening of the interrupter. These switch members are usually reciprocally movable, or are plungers, and are provided with suitable binding post 20, wire 21, to the coil of the electro-magnet 6 thence, through wire 22, to the contact 16, through the switch or bridge 12, to contact 17 wire 23, through a third or safety switch 24, to be presently described, thence through wire 25, to the return feed wire 26. Also, if the switch member 13 is closed into engagement with contacts 31, 32, the current will flow from wire 18, wire 19, binding post 20. wire 27', to the coil of the electromagnet 7, thence through wire 28, to binding post 29, wire 30:, to contact 32, through the switch member or bridge 13, contact 31, thence through wire 25, to wire 26. Each of the switch members 12, 13 is provided with means as springs 35 tending to open them when released by the operator.

A third, or safety switch 24, which forms the subject matter of this invention, is moved to its open position by an electro-magnet 36 5 having its coil connected in a normally open circuit which is closed by electro-magnetic means operable by abnormal conditions in the interrupter circuit, this electro-magnetic means also operating to connect the coil of the electro-magnet 7 in a closed circuit in order to effect the opening of the interrupter when the electro-magnet 36 of the safety switch is open.

The electro-magnetic means controlled by abnormal conditions in the interrupter circuit for closing the circuitthrough the electro-magnet 36, and the electro-magnet 7, are here shown as a pair of electro-magnets 40 and 41, the coil of the magnet 40 being connected in a secondary circuit of a transformer 42, the primary windings of which are connected in juxtaposition to one of the wires of the interrupter circuit, as the wire 5. In other words,the electro-magnet 40 is connected to the secondary winding of a transformer operated by abnormal conditions in the interrupter circuit. The electro-magnet 40 has an armature 43 acting'as a switch to bridge. contacts 44, 45 in a circuit 'which controls thevfiow of current to the electro-' magnet 41, and this electro-magnet 41 has an armature 46' which acts as a switch, which when closed, connects the electro-magnet 7 in a closed circuit, and also connects the electro-magnet 36 in a closed circuit.

When abnormal or overload conditions are present in the interrupter'circuit, and the operator closes the switch member 12, the electro-magnet 40 will be energized by the 43, so that a circuitis closed through the electro-magnet 41, as follows: wire 18, windings of'the electro-magnet 41, wire 47, contact 44, switch 43, contact 45, to'the return wire26; The elect-ro-magnet 41, being energized, will close the switch 46, and the circuit is asjfollows :wires 18, 19, binding post 20, wire 27, coils of electro-magnet 7, wire 28,

binding post 29, wire 48, switch 46, wire 49,

to the return wire 26. Also, current flows from wire 18, through wire 51. to binding post 52,,wire 53, thence through thecoil'of the electro-magnet 36, thence, through wire F 54, binding post 55, through wire 56, bridge member 46 and wire 49 to the return wire 26. When the electro-magnet 36 is energized, it opens the switch 24, and the interrupter 1 is openedby the action of the electroemagnet 7, by the closing of the switch '46, and will revmain open instead of fluctuating or pump ing. Whenthe operator releases the handle 14, the switch 24 will be returned to its closed position, owing to a resetting coupling between the safety switch 24 and the switch'memberj12. V

transformer circuit, thus closing the switch In order to reset the switch 24, a connection or a coupling is provided between it and the switch member 12, or the plunger rod on which it is mounted, this consisting of an angular arm mounted on the stem 61 of the switch 24 to move therewith, and'having a shoulder 62, through which the rod of the switch member 12 slides. Theshoulder is arranged in the path of the switch member or bridge 12, so thatwhen the switch 24 is opened by the magnet 36 and the switch member 12 is returned from itsclosed position to its open position after being released by the operator, it closes or resets the switch 24. Owing to this coupling 60, the interrupter 1 will have but one opening and closing movement, and can not have a pumping movement during the interval that the operator'is holding on to the operating member 14 of the switch member 12, it being understood that during this short period, several pumping operations of the interrupter would otherwise take place when. there are overload or abnormal conditions 1n the load circuit. The destructive results of the pumping operations are too well known to require explanation herein.

The switch 24 and its electro-magnet are mountedon the-same support 65 that carries the switch members 12 and 13, andare located between these switch membersl2, 13, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that the switch 11 including a-safety switch 24, is a unitary structure. The operating rods of the switch members 12, 13 also actuate an indicator 67, all in a manner similar to the Hill Patent No. 1,096,913, previously referred to. V

This construction is particularly advantageous in that the safety switch can be economically embodied in the control switch In operation, to close the interrupter, the

operating member .14 is pulled outwardlya closed circuit, and also connecting the coil 36 of the safety switch which operates to cut out the coil 6 so that the interrupter 1 will be opened immediately, and repeated opening and closing, or pumping, ,will not occur while the operator is holding the switch member 12 closed, or before he has time to let it open, it being understood that in the switches heretofore used, many pump- If there are abunit at a slight extra cost in manufacturing.

operations can occur during the shortest time that the switch 12 could reopen. V

What I claim is:

1. The combination with an electric circuit, an interrupter therein, electro-magnetic means operable to close the interrupter and electro-magnetic means operable to open the interrupter of a switch having switch members operable to close circuits respectively through said opening and closing means, the switch members being normally open and having means tending to open them, a normally closed safety switch connected in series with the switch member controlling the flow of current through said electromagnetic means which operates to close the interrupter, means operated by abnormal conditions in the circuit closed by the interrupter, for opening said normally closed safety switch, and closing a circuit through the electro-magnetic means which operates to open the interrupter, and resetting connections between the switch member which controls the flow of current to the electro-magnetic means operating to close the interrupter, and said safety switch, to close the safety switch when said switch member to which it is connected returns to open position.

2. In a switch of the class described, for controlling the opening and closing of an interrupter in an electric circuit through opposing coils, said switch having switch members operable to close circuits respectively through said coils, and a normally closed safety switch in circuit with the switch member operating to close the circuit through one of the coils to effect the closing of the interrupter, connections between the safety switch and said switch member, for resetting the safety switch after being open when said switch member, to which the safety switch is connected, is returned to its open position, and means operated by abnormal conditions in the circuit closed by the interrupter for opening the safety switch when said closing switch member to which it is connected is closed.

3. In a switch of the class described, the combination of a suitable support, a pair of switch members for closing different circuits carried by the support and operable independently of each other, a safety switch member paired with one of the former switch members, carried by the support and normal- 'ly closing the circuit controlled by one of said switch members, and electro-magnetic means carried by said support for opening the safety switch when the switch member with which it is paired in series is closed, and motion transmitting means connecting the safety switch and the switch member with which it is paired, whereby upon the return to open position of the switch member with which the safety switch is paired, the safety switch is returned to closed position.

4. A switch for controlling the opening and closing of an interrupter, the switch comprising a support, a pair of switch members for controlling the closing of different circuits to close and open the interrupter, said switch members being normally open, and having means tending to move them to open position, a safety switch normally closing the circuit controlled by the switch member which controls the closing of the int-en rupter, an electro-magnet for opening the safety switch, the electro-magnet and the safety switch being carried by the support for said switch members, and a resetting coupling between the switch member which controls the closing of the interrupter and the safety switch permitting the operation of such switch member independently of the safety switch, and operating to return the safety switch when opened by the electromagnet to closed position upon the return of the switch member coupled thereto to open position.

5. The combination of an electric circuit having an interrupter therein, electro-actuated means for opening and closing the interrupter, of a switch having switch means independently operable to close circuits respectively through said opening and closing means, the switch members having means for normally maintaining them in open position, a normally closed safety switch connected in series in circuit with the closing means, and means operated by abnormal conditions in the circuit closed by the interrupter for opening said normally closed switch and the circuit to the closing means, and motion transmitting means coacting with the safety switch and the switch member in the closing circuit for restoring the safety switch to closed position upon release of the closing switch member.

6. The combination of an electric circuit having an interrupter therein, an electro-responsive means for opening and closing the interrupter, a switch for controlling the operation of said opening and closing means, including first and second separable contacts connected in series with the circuit to the closing means, a manually operated handle for opening and closing said first contacts, and means operable in response to a predetermined electrical condition in the circuit controlled by the interrupter for opening said second contacts, motion transmitting means between said first and second contacts comprising the only means for closing said second contacts, a third pair of contacts connected in the circuit to the opening means, and a manually operable handle for opening and closing said third contacts.

7. The combination of an electric circuit having an interrupter therein, electro-responsive means for closing the interrupter, and electro-responsive means for opening the same, an electric circuit for each of said electro-responsive means, a switch in said closing circuit including separable contacts, a manually operated handle for opening and closing said contacts, a second switch in said 5 closing circuit including separable contacts connected in series with the contacts of the first switch, means operable inresponse to a predeterminedelectrical condition in the main circuit connected through the interrupter to open the contacts of said second switch-irrespective of the maintenance of the handle of the first switch in closed position, and to si-' multaneously close the circuit to the opening means of the interrupter, and motion transmitting means between said first and second switch whereby upon movement of the handle 7 of the first switch to open position the contacts of the second switch are closed.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 2 signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 18th day of February, 1931.

CLIFFORD L. REALS. 

